If you live in a remote location or are worried about power outages due to extreme weather events, you might keep a generator at your house. But leaving a generator on your property can be dangerous, not just for the environment, but also because it can be stolen. Generator theft is on the rise across the US, with many homeowners left powerless and upset after having their generators taken from them. If you're looking for tips to protect your generator from thieves, these methods can help keep yours safely in your garage:

10 Steps to protect your generator from theft

1. Lock it up

The first thing you need to do is lock it up. To do this, you should use a heavy-duty lock. This will keep the generator from being easily stolen and also prevent it from being cut or broken open by thieves.

You'll want to use a lock that isn't easy to pick or break into with tools like hammers, saws, drills and so on. You also want something that isn't easily cut through with bolt cutters, these are common tools for many thieves who are looking for ways around traditional locks.

2. Run it on your property

The first step in making sure your generator doesn't get stolen is to remember one simple fact:

• Your generator should be running on your property.
• Not in your driveway.
• Not in the garage.
• Not in the backyard.
• Not in front of or behind your house, either, no matter how convenient that might seem at first glance, given that this would allow you to run it off an extension cord and keep it closer to where you'll need it (and reduce wear and tear on tires).

3. Bolt it in place

To keep tabs on your generator, you have a few options. If you want to be able to check up on it from afar, a remote control is the best way to go. A keypad or key fob can also work well if it's not too far away from where you are—it'll just be more difficult to check in every now and then. If you want something more hands-off, consider using an app for your smartphone or tablet that can alert you when something happens at home. Security systems offer another avenue for monitoring your generator. They come with cameras that can keep watch over everything going on around the house, so this option would be best if you'd like something more visual than just knowing how much power has been used or whether there's been any tampering with the unit itself. Some security systems also offer remote monitoring services so they're even easier to use without needing someone else nearby all day long! Another option is using a camera specifically designed for keeping tabs on your home while away: think Nest Cam Outdoor or Arlo Pro 2 cameras here (but remember these don't actually provide any kind of protection against theft). These kinds of devices might seem like overkill since we only care about making sure nothing goes wrong during an outage; however if those outages happen often enough then having one might actually save money by reducing stress levels!

4. Keep tabs on your generator with an alarm

To keep tabs on your generator, you have a few options. If you want to be able to check up on it from afar, a remote control is the best way to go. A keypad or key fob can also work well if it's not too far away from where you are, it'll just be more difficult to check in every now and then. If you want something more hands-off, consider using an app for your smartphone or tablet that can alert you when something happens at home.

Security systems offer another avenue for monitoring your generator. They come with cameras that can keep watch over everything going on around the house, so this option would be best if you'd like something more visual than just knowing how much power has been used or whether there's been any tampering with the unit itself. Some security systems also offer remote monitoring services so they're even easier to use without needing someone else nearby all day long!

Another option is using a camera specifically designed for keeping tabs on your home while away: think Nest Cam Outdoor or Arlo Pro 2 cameras here (but remember these don't actually provide any kind of protection against theft). These kinds of devices might seem like overkill since we only care about making sure nothing goes wrong during an outage; however if those outages happen often enough then having one might actually save money by reducing stress levels!

5. Install a generator bypass switch

A generator bypass allows you to turn off the power coming out of your generator and back into the house. This prevents thieves from stealing it, but it also offers peace of mind when there's an emergency and you need your primary source of electricity back up and running quickly.

6. Put lights around the area of the generator

Light up the area around your home with motion-sensor lights, security cameras, or floodlights that can be controlled remotely with an app on your smartphone so that you can see what's happening around the house at all times (or at least whenever there's activity).

7. Remove your generator wheels

Remove wheels from your power-producing equipment so that if someone decides they want to haul off their own little slice of paradise with them after dark, they'll have a harder time doing so without wheels getting in their way, or worse yet: injuring themselves! Also consider mounting a GPS tracker on top if possible, you'll know exactly who took what when they do (and where). Run it only on your property.

8. Add a GPS tracker to your generator

This will allow you to easily track its location if it is stolen and help you recover the unit quickly.

9. Keep an eye on your generator when in use

Thieves are known to roam neighborhoods looking for unattended generators that they can steal and sell on the black market. Always make sure it's inside when not in use, or at least locked away securely so no one can walk off with it.

10. Add a lock to your generator (or other equipment) if possible

This is especially important if there are only one or two people using them regularly as opposed to several staff members every day who might see someone approaching with suspicious intent before being able to react quickly enough.